The Aussie Pinball Arcade
Aussie Pinball Forums => Technical Matters => Pinball Repairs / Problems & Assistance => Topic started by: Peach on January 09, 2009, 08:07:52 PM
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Hi Guys,I need some help please,the lights on the playfield of my SO just went out and I have found a blown fuse but can`t for the life of me find out how many amps it is,I know it is 6 volts,because that`s on the sticker under it but not the amps,does anyone have any idea what it would be please.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Hi Peach,
I THINK its a 10A
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Thankyou %$%
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More help please.I replaced the fuse but it keeps blowing,where would I need to look for the problem.
Cheers Peach %$%
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If the fuse thats blowing is on the light circuit it could be a shorted globe socket. I haven't had to fix one yet but have read they are a pain to track down. ther may even be a post on here about that !@# . worth a search.
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!)# I changed a few bulbs yesterday so maybe that`s where the problem is.Will have a look,thanks.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Ok Guys,Need some more help please,I have checked all the bulb holders,straightened a few, and still blowing the fuse for the playfield lights,where do I look next,any help will be appreciated.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Is the fuse REALLY meant to be 10amp? maybe it's a 15A or 20A? (My stellar wars uses a 20A for the GI lamps).
Also, i know this is a pain, but remove ALL the GI lamps out of their sockets and replace the 10A fuse, does it still blow?
If it blows, then it proves a socket is shorted,
If it doesn't blow, then you proved a lamp is dodgy.
Replace the lamps back into their sockets one-at-a-time until the fuse blows again, then you've found the dodgy lamp.
(this is easier than measuring each lamp individually, trying to compare all the filament resistances, trying to establish what value is good or not).
Good Luck,
MM.
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The fuse is actually 15 amp,I found it on the electrical plan thingy,do I just take out the bulbs under the playfield or on top as well,thanks for the help.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Yep, remove ALL the GI lamps, whether they're under/ontop of the playfield, and also the ones in the backbox.
Does your GI wiring go via a few connectors? maybe you can unplug the backbox and playfirld GI lamps to help isolate where the short is.
MM.
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No worries thanks for that,I think I can unplug the backbox.
Cheers Peach %$%
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To make sure it's on your playfield - unplug the jones plugs from the playfield to the game, there are 2 of them (make sure the power is off).
Replace the 10A fuse (I'm sure it is 10A for lights on a Williams pin) and if the fuse doesn't blow with the playfield unplugged you know the short is on it.
You will need to take your time and really feel your pain...I still have this problem on my World Fair and have just given up for now!
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Which is the jones plug,are they the ones under where the backbox is that you push on to the pins.
Cheers Peach %$%
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That is them....the plugs with the wires that join the head to the actaul game
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After a day of taking bulbs out and putting them back in and a dozen blown fuses . I found the problem to be a contact stuck on one of the bumpers ,what a pain,anyway I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who offered advice. $#$
Cheers Peach %$%
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That's weird, not sure how a bumper switch would be attached anywhere onto the GI circuit to blow it's fuse...something dodgy.
Glad it's solved anyway &&
MM.
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With my very limited knowledge I have no idea either,but maybe there was a dodgy bulb,I did have every one of them out before I found the contact,so could have fixed it without even knowing. !@#
%$%
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After a day of taking bulbs out and putting them back in and a dozen blown fuses . I found the problem to be a contact stuck on one of the bumpers ,what a pain,anyway I just wanted to say thanks to everyone who offered advice. $#$
Cheers Peach %$%
That's bizarre !
If the bumper switch was closed - then that bumper coil would "pull in", not blow your 15 Amp GI fuse !
That's funny :lol
Anyway - Glad it is resolved. sometimes you can accidentally shorten a GI lamp socket to ground or something else. Simply by removing the globes and re installing them - you would have fixed the issue.
#*#
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yes - bizarre, but arent you glad you dont have to unsolder all those lamps now to find the fault??
Is it possible that the stuck switch on the bumpers was touching the lamp holder legs??
This is the only way i can see the switch affecting the lamp circuit
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It would seem that I opened my mouth too soon,just turned it on and played for about minute and a half before the fuse blew again,but at least now it doesn`t blow straight away ^&^.
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So we have an intermittent fault??
Did you check at the bumper switch again??
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I did,it`s ok,but don`t know if it was a coincidence that the fuse blew when I pushed the start button.It went out during play so I replaced the fuse and pushed start and blew again. !!!
%$%
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mmmmmm. well you have a dead short somewhere.
Try this trick - lift the PF up and turn game on while keeping your eyes at the underside of the PF. When the fuse blows do you see a blue flash anywhere?? ( best done in the dark if poss)
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Tried it and saw a blue flash,took out the bulb near it but the fuse blew anyway,it was to the right of the swinging target on the bumper at the side of the playfield.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Peach - just take the power line off this socket. keep the 2 wires together ( if there are 2) and insulate with some tape.
Ive got your manual and flyer here to send to you - will add a socket also in case you dont have any
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Hmmm, the plot thickens..... time to buy another big bag of fuses and keep tracking where the flash/arching is occuring....
Best of luck.
MM.
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Probably shouldn`t open my big mouth to soon but it seems to be ok at the moment,just played a couple of games and no problems at all, !@#.
Cheers Peach %$%
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Peach, when you saw the blue flash where the short is - it was near the bumper??
Check the wire looms here for bare wires/ worn insulation. often with this sort of short, lifting the PF can move the loom and therefore move the short. it hasnt fixed the problem
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Thanks Gavin,Will do,just thought I should leave it alone for a bit before I get the shits with it *)*
Cheers Peach %$%
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I have had another look and found a little bit of wire that was bare near where I saw the flash,so I have taped it up ,so far the fuse has not blown,the bit that was bare was very small,could this have been the problem ?? !@#
Cheers Peach %$%
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I have had another look and found a little bit of wire that was bare near where I saw the flash,so I have taped it up ,so far the fuse has not blown,the bit that was bare was very small,could this have been the problem ?? !@#
Cheers Peach %$%
Most definitely could be the problem. Especially when the bumper are firing etc.. This causes vibration which contributes to the problem.
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Now that`s what I like to hear,will keep my fingers crossed,I had no idea it would be so hard to find it,but couldn`t have done it without the help of you guys ,so a big thankyou to all #*#
Cheers Peach %$%
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And a special thanks to Gavin ,for the extra help. %$%
Cheers Peach %$%
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Oh Peach - im glad you found it!!
Was getting to the point where i was going to offer to drive up!